Jacks allow two goals in the third, lose seesaw battle to ‘Cats

Wichita Falls, TX – The Odessa Jackalopes and Wichita Falls Wildcats changed leads four times Saturday night, but the Wildcats late tallies proved to much for Odessa, beating Jacks 5-3 at Kay Yeager Coliseum. Luke Shultz scored his first goal of the season in the second to give the Jacks their first lead, but the Wildcats offense proved to relentless, tallying 36 shots.

In the first, the Wildcats broke the deadlock at 6:40 when Jeff Baum beat Dean Shatzer at the high slot to give Wichita Falls the first lead. Odessa was able to counter at 11:43 on a goal in which Zach Zech (3) followed up a 2-on-1 and jammed home the loose puck just past goal line while partially behind the net, tieing the game 1-1.

Odessa took their first lead of the game in the second at the 2:19 mark when Shultz (1) shoveled an innocent wrister through the five-hole of ‘Cats goaltend Justin Kapelmaster from the top of the far circle. The Wildcats then responded with two unanswered goals by Aleks Poikolai and Max Reisinger to regain the lead 3-2.

In the third, Odessa refused to back down, after Oliver Celec ringed a shot off the iron the Swedish forward took the puck just inside the ‘Cats blue line at the point and threw the puck towards net where Gray Marr perfectly redirected the shot through the legs of Kapelmaster to tie the game at 2:55 of the third. Again, the Wildcats responded but this time to the seal the game with goals at 9:55 by Reisinger and Nick Rosa at 15:33.

Odessa took eight penalties in the game including four in the third period and couldn’t find the momentum to mount another comeback in the final 5 minutes. The Jacks move to 3-3-0 on the season a snap their three-game winning streak.

The Jacks finally come home next Friday against he Topeka Roadrunners. Saturday is the West Texas Beer Jam, which includes a beer and hockey ticket for just $10.

In 2015-16, the Odessa Jackalopes will embark upon their fifth season in the North American Hockey League and 19h in the Permian Basin. Season tickets are on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.

Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter @LetsGoJacks all year long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.